Chapter XVIII: Finale Tempo
In which the darkness is destroyed...
“I will protect you... so please, come back to me...”
“Pain. There is... no pain. Why is there no pain? I was fighting Kain... and he... did something to me... something painful. And then there was nothing but darkness... and fear. What happened? Am I dead? Did he kill me? No. I'm not dead. I can't die yet! Alza... Kingston... Maloch... they need me! They are in danger! Hold on. Just hold on! I'm coming now... I'm coming to save you, ALZA!”
For what seemed like the first time in an eternity, Barsch opened his eyes. Almost immediately, light filled his world, as spots of colour danced across his vision. Sound, ever the slower of the two, came next, greeting him with a myriad of strange noises. But, at that moment, Barsch could not care less about the world around him... as the world in front of him was far more important. Looking upwards -he had already come to terms with his new horizontal position- he could see a blurred figure crouched above him.
Blinking away what remained of his sleep, he was able to slowly make out the ghost-like features of his guardian angel. From her snow-white hair to her pale, ivory skin... everything about her that made his heart beat faster. But there were two things about her that had changed, and Barsch could not determine which one surprised him more. First was her smile... her dazzling, radiant smile which seemed too perfect, too pure for mortals to comprehend. It had transformed her once-cold demeanour into one of beauty and kindness, and Barsch's earlier hypothesis about dying seemed all the more real. If he had really died, then this is what the afterlife would look like: full of Alzas with radiant smiles.
However, the second thing that he noticed forever destroyed any notion that he was dead. Alza's eyes: her beautiful, yet haunting, violet orbs had changed. In their place now stood a pair of worryingly familiar blue-green spheres. With a start, he realized what he was looking at: Alza had his eyes... his birth-given eyes. Combined with her white hair and breath taking smile his eyes made her seem... normal. Unfortunately, before he was able to dwell on the thought further, Alza closed her eyes. When she opened them again, they had returned to their true colours. At that moment, Barsch could not decide which Alza was more... real.
“Can you stand?”
Her voice, in direct contrast to her welcoming smile, was cold. Without waiting for his reply, she reached down and grabbed his arm, before yanking him upwards. He rose quickly, feeling lighter than he had in a long time. Strangely, the sensation did not dissipate when his feet touched the floor, or when Alza relaxed her grip. In fact, it was not only the lightness of his body which alarmed him. He felt... different, as if he had been reborn in a completely different form. His arms, which had previously felt sore and leaden, now felt... lighter than air. His pain, along with his wounds, had also disappeared, and for the first time, he could think clearly.
It was only then, while he was marvelling at his newfound strength, did he fully come to notice the world around him. From the blood streaking along the floor -his blood, he was sure- to the immobile bodies of Kingston and Maloch, lying at opposite ends of the room.
But, before he could do anything about them, he would have to do something about the man who had sent him to the edge of death. The man who was still standing in the centre of the room, being distracted by the valiant efforts of Spectre. The glowing, golden ball of energy was succeeding in evading his frustrated strikes, but every attack came closer and closer to hitting home.
Beside him, Alza wordlessly bent down to retrieve Lanista, before thrusting it into Barsch's open hand. For an instant, he hesitated, as the memory of fighting Kain came rushing back. Even after trying his hardest, after using ever skill and ability he knew, the crimson eyed monster had dispatched him with ease. Even with his wounds healed, could he really beat such a monstrously overpowering creature?
“Yes, we can,” he thought suddenly, much to his surprise, “It's not just the healing, or feeling stronger, or even having Alza beside us. We have changed. We are not the same person as before. He was weak, and he died a coward’s death. We have been reborn. We have evolved. We have become a supreme being, and all shall bow to us or be destroyed!”
Barsch tried to shake the strange thoughts from his head, but the feeling of power persisted. He was slightly worried at the new voice's grandiose words, but at that moment, he felt that anything that boosted his confidence was welcome.
“Enough! I grow tired of this insolence!”
Kain's outraged scream cut through Barsch's thoughts like a white-hot blade. Barsch looked up just in time to see the crimson-eyed monster reach out and point a finger at Spectre, which, for what seemed like no reason, suddenly came to a dead stop. However, on closer inspection, it became clear that Kain had once again used his manmade powers to bend the laws of the universe. With a flick of his wrist, the now immobilized ball of light flew helplessly towards it's captor. When it was close enough, Kain reached out and grabbed hold of the struggling Spectre, which shrank in size to fit inside his open palm.
And then, with a cruel smile, he closed his fist, crushing the ever-helpful, ever-loyal Spectre into oblivion.
The will-o-wisp died with a shrill shriek, it's remains forming into tiny puffs of coloured light that rose into the air, before fading from existence. And although the mysterious creature had not been... truly alive... Barsch could not help but feel a great pang of sadness for the guiding sprite. The pain in his heart, he realized, was the same one he had felt when he had lost Yumiere, Rigel and the Unknown Woman. Spectre, he knew, would forever live on in his guilt-ridden mind, kept company by his other mistakes.
“KAIN!!!” he roared, as the pain in his chest turned to rage.
The monster, who could take life with a smile, turned to him. It was almost satisfactory to see that very same smile turn to a look of shock.
For Kain, he was seeing something that should not... could not, exist. A man whom he had personally ended, now standing tall, without a single scratch or blemish. To Kain, even his eyes had changed, going from wide-eyed fear to a cold, calculating anger that made him want to step back.
The youth, the plebeian who had dared to challenge his superior, now looked ready to kill a god.
“You... how? I broke you! I destroyed your mind and scattered the pieces in a thousand directions! How are you still alive? How are you still sane!”
Kain's words were pitched, and his manic expression had been replaced with one of abject fear and confusion.
“Barsch, let us end this...” Alza said, completely ignoring Kain's gibbering words.
Barsch looked from her to Kain, very much aware of the dangers of waiting. The more time he took to act, the greater chance of Kain recovering his composure, which would spell doom for everyone in the room.
After one last glance at Kingston and Maloch's bodies, he made his decision. “I ask for no forgiveness for what I am about to do, only strength to do what I must.” he calmly said, to no one in particular.
Facing Kain, he roared, “Kain, for what you have done, I will end you!” Immediately, he leapt forward, Lanista roaring into life in his hands. Alza followed him, her violet eyes glowing brighter than ever before. Together, as one, they struck; a burst of flame from Alza, and a skull-splitting slash from Barsch.
If they had been facing anyone else, the attack would have overwhelmed any defence, but this was Kain, and he was like no other.
Even as Barsch began to leap, Kain was reacting, throwing up a semi-transparent shield of hardened air which completely encircled him. When Lanista connected with the barrier, Barsch's arms shook from the recoil. Almost immediately, Kain countered, driving his flame-born sword towards Barsch's undefended chest.
Had he done this to the old Barsch, he might have scored a fatal hit, but to the new, stronger Barsch, the attack moved at a snail’s pace, allowing him to dodge it with ease. Without waiting for the second strike, Barsch dropped to the floor, using his momentum to change direction.
>
A heartbeat later, he was at Kain's side, driving home another barrage of strikes. The barrier of air trembled under each hit, with a half-dozen cracks left after the latest exchange. Kain, sensing danger, tried to retreat, partially collapsing his shield in order to move.
However, Alza had been waiting for him, and, the moment he stepped back, launched a psychokinetic barrage of her own. Her strikes looked like enlarged fists, made of fire and hardened air, and with every blow more cracks were added to the collection. Kain visibly staggered under the onslaught, his knees almost buckling from the intensity of Alza's attack. Unfortunately, before Alza was able to destroy the barrier, Kain lashed out with his power, sending her and Barsch skidding across the smooth floor.
Undeterred, Barsch charged forward once more, blade raised and ready. Compared to before, he felt like an entirely different person. His fear, his anxiety, even his anger were noticeably dulled. He could still feel them, but they were subdued... muffled by his newfound calmness.
The intensity of his rage may have fallen, but the Beast, His Violence, was still there, waiting patiently in the back of his mind. However, by letting the Beast take over, by refusing to fight for control, he found that he was able to keep his bloodlust under control, until when he needed it most.
“Thank you Kingston, for that...” he thought, as his screaming sword stabbed forward, crying out for Kain's blood.
Kain, in response, dove sideways, swinging wildly with his burning blade. Unfortunately, Barsch's momentum prevented him from dodging, and he received a long, but shallow cut across his chest. Landing awkwardly, he winced in anticipation of the forthcoming pain, but, moments later, opened his eyes in surprise. Reaching down, he felt where the blade had cut, expecting to feel the missing pain. To his astonishment he felt only smooth skin.
“Perhaps he missed? Maybe my luck is finally changing?” thought Barsch.
“Barsch, look out!” cried Alza, from somewhere behind him.
Without thinking, he spun and brought Lanista up, narrowly avoiding a follow-up slash from Kain. The crimson-eyed man scowled and dashed backwards, the anger on his face contorting his handsome features. With a beastly cry he dashed forward, fully intent on ending the battle. Fortunately, Alza had already moved to intercept him, bringing with her a dozen orbiting fireballs, which detached and sped towards Kain on her command. The burning orbs twisted through the air, striking Kain solidly in the chest and pushing him back, towards the reactor.
When he landed, he stopped and dropped to one knee, clutching his burned torso. With eyes of hate, he looked up to Alza and screamed, “HOW DARE YOU! How dare you raise your hand against your own kind, against your brother!”
“You are not my brother,” Alza said, in a voice cold enough to freeze flames.
“You will pay for this... all of you will pay! When Father gets here, I will tell him what you did... and he will make you beg for a quick death!”
Kain's face had once more become a manic mask, created by desperation and rage. His eyes burned with hatred, not only for Alza and Barsch, but for everything in existence.
“Our Father will not be coming. Not now, not ever. He's gone now, and the world is already better for it,” Alza said, with no trace of pity for her former father.
If Kain had been manic before, then what came next was beyond insanity.
“No. No. NO! Father can't die... You are lying! He's alive... and he needs me. I'm coming Father. Right after I kill them... Yes... that's what I have to do... I just need to kill them... I just need to kill them all!”
Kain let out a deranged cackle as the last of his sanity slipped away. His eyes were now filled with madness, as they stared at something man was not meant to see. His twisted smile, now a lopsided white line on his tortured face, was not meant for anyone in the room. Kain's mind had been broken, and, unlike for Barsch, there was no one who was going to fix it.
“And now... I want all of you... TO DISAPPEAR!” he roared, in a savage voice.
His crimson eyes were burning brightly as he brought his hands together, dispelling the flaming blade in the process. With a complex wave of his hands, a massive wall of air gusted forth from his body, driving Barsch and Alza back. The wall of screaming wind felt like a million tiny razor blades, covering the duo in tiny cuts. Along with the gale-force barrier, Kain started sending out bolts of fire, seemingly at random. Beneath him, tiles were ripped loose from the floor, before fragmenting into dozens of sharp shards, which joined the fireballs in the chaos.
“You can do it, I will protect you!” Alza screamed, struggling to be heard above the gale. Barsch could only nod, while inwardly he wondered how anyone could make it through Kain's maelstrom of destruction. Still, he trusted Alza with his life, and he knew that if anyone could get him through safely, it was her.
Raising Lanista, he began to walk forward, chanting his father's mantra for courage.
THROUGH FIRE,
Kain, through half-lidded eyes, had noticed him. With another flick of his fingers, the madman's son sent a massive tongue of flame hurtling towards him. However, to both of their surprise, it never hit, instead stopping well short of its target. With a flick of his eyes, Barsch looked over at Alza. She had an arm outstretched, and her face bore a look of intense concentration. Beads of sweat were forming on her forehead, and her mouth was gritted in pain. Forcing himself to move, Barsch took another step, and another, growing ever closer to Kain, who continued to send out streams of flame to no avail.
THROUGH ICE,
“I've got your back, m'boy!”
Kingston's welcome voice somehow cut through the deluge, bringing new strength to Barsch. The old man had managed to get to his feet and reclaim his solar staff, and was now briskly moving towards Kain. When he was close enough, he whirled his weapon in a great arc, before bringing it crashing down on Kain's innermost barrier. The resultant wave of light crashed into the barely-visible shield, sending a ripple across its surface. In that instant, when Kain's attention was divided, his wall of wind faltered, giving Barsch an opportunity to gain some ground.
THROUGH DEEPEST DESPAIR,
“Weapon charging complete. Beginning energy discharge in three, two, one!”
From Kain's other side came a glorious sight: Maloch, back on his feet, with both arms raised. As Barsch watched, Maloch fired both weapons simultaneously, sending a compressed sound burst and an ionized laser screaming towards Kain. The impact sent another ripple racing across the surface of Kain's shield, and once more, Barsch was able to take advantage of the confusion to gain a few steps.
I WILL NEVER!
“Barsch, be careful! If that reactor goes, we all go, understand?” cried Kingston.
Another few steps into the flaming, shard filled wall of death. Kain's eyes were now wide open, and filled with fear. He had thrown everything he had at Barsch, and still the youth kept on coming.
LOSE!
Another step. And another. Kain was only a few feet away, and yet Barsch could still not reach him. Despite Kingston's and Maloch's best efforts, his shield still stood, and with it, Kain was untouchable.
MY!
So close, and yet so far. Just a little bit further. Just a few more steps. Barsch wanted to scream in frustration.
“Barsch! GO!” cried Alza, as a giant fist of fire and air formed above his head, before slamming down on the weakened barrier. With the sound of shattering glass, the shield broke, leaving nothing between Barsch and Kain. With one final cry, Barsch leapt forward, his roaring blade lurching forward towards its target.
STRIDE!!!
The scream echoed across the room, becoming one with Lanista's roar. Barsch felt a sudden resistance to the blade, and then nothing. Raising his eyes, he blinked suddenly at the sight. Kain's face was mere inches from his, and yet his eyes were not looking at him... not anymore. Looking down, Barsch saw the reason. Lanista, in its fury, had embedded itself in Kain's chest, its spinning teeth lapping at the blood seeping from t
he fatal wound.
“H-how? How could an inferior... how could you defeat me?” Kain mumbled, over and over, as the shock of what happened took hold.
Barsch did not know what to feel. He had taken a life, of that he was sure. Should he feel joy, at knowing that he had stopped a madman... or shame, for the way in which he had done it. It was not something he could afford to think about there, so, with a heave, he wrenched Lanista free and stepped back. No longer supported by the blade, Kain slumped forward, collapsing to the floor without a sound.
It was then that Barsch saw his mistake, in the form of a wide gash in the reactor's outer shell.
“No…” he said. What else was there to say?
“Barsch m'boy, are you alright?” called Kingston, as he made his way over. When he got close enough to see the damage, he gasped. “Oh. That's not good.”
Maloch was the next arrival, and his reaction closely mirrored Kingston's. Alza was last, approaching Kain with a wary eye, as if she expected him to suddenly leap up and attack. When she had assured herself that he would not, she drew closer and said, while pointing towards the gash, “Is that going to be a problem?”
“I am afraid so. The damage to the reactor is quite severe, and the impending chain reaction will reduce this valley to a five-mile wide hole. Even if we were to start running now...”
“Dammit!” Kingston swore, the frustration on his face quite visible.
“Kingston, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...” Barsch whispered, knowing full well that no apology could undo the damage he had caused.
“No, It's my fault, for putting us in this situation in the first place.” Kingston took a step backwards, while his eyes swept the room. “Dr Emmerfield wasn't stupid. He would have had more than one exit, in the case of emergency. If we hack into his main computer, I'm sure we'll find something.”
“I suppose that is a possibility.”
“Perfect. Now, let's get out of here! This place gives me the creeps.”
Following Kingston, the weary and battered group headed towards the door. Barsch was the last to leave. Looking back, he could not help but feel a pang of sadness for the man who had tried to kill them. If he had not been raised by Dr Emmerfield... If he had been chosen to leave the facility instead of Alza, they might have become friends... But now, he would never know.
“Goodbye, Kain. I'm sorry... for this. Please, rest in peace.” Having said his eulogy, he turned and left the room.
Awakening Page 240